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Massive drug busts throughout Quinte region

More charges could be laid against several local people for their alleged involvement in a sophisticated cross-border drug operation that saw 37 individuals being rounded up in a province-wide raid, sources say.

Throughout Wednesday, the local court system was inundated with the processing of several accused who were rounded up across the Quinte region during early morning raids executed by drug enforcement officers.

The accused are facing a slew of drug related charges including the production of marijuana and cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possession of marijuana and cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Some of the accused are also facing the more serious charge of conspiring to possess and traffic drugs in association or for the benefit of a criminal operation.

While Justice Geoffrey Griffin ran bail hearings for four area men in the Belleville provincial court, his colleague Justice Stephen Hunter provided some assistance by processing some of the accused at the Quinte West Detachment.

A source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the investigation dubbed "Project Needham" has busted a multi-million dollar criminal operation that covered a significant area of Ontario including Toronto, Owen Sound and several eastern counties.

The source said investigators seized a significant amount of drugs including marijuana and cocaine.

No weapons have been found up until Wednesday night but several hundred rounds of ammunition were seized, the source added.

The source said several people busted for their involvement in the sophisticated cross-border drug operation could be facing additional charges pending further investigation.

Several people are still being sought by the police for their connection to the criminal organization, the source added.

The source said investigators are in the process of executing additional search warrants across Ontario which could lead to the discovery of more drugs.

Court documents revealed that the investigation has been ongoing for over a year, running from Nov. 1, 2009 to Dec. 3, 2010. Several raids occurred across the Quinte region, including one in Foxboro Wednesday morning.

Several locations in Quinte West and Prince Edward County were also hit in the raids. Belleville Police said they were participating in a "multi-jurisdictional drug investigation" and a joint media conference is planned for Toronto today.

Three of the four men who appeared in Belleville were released with strict house arrest conditions. Michael Robinson, of Plainfield, was granted bail. The 22-year-old was charged with the possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

Also out on bail is Jody McQuad, 31, of Picton. McQuad is facing several charges including possession of cocaine for the purpose of traffic and conspiring to possess and traffic drugs in association or for the benefit of a criminal operation.

Also released on similar conditions was Adam Jones, of Belleville, who is charged with the possession of cocaine for the purposee of trafficking and conspiring to traffic drugs in association with or for the benefit of a criminal organization.

Ryan Gaffney, 25, was denied bail by Griffin. Gaffney is facing barrage of charges including exporting marijuana from Canada, possession of marijuana and cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, conspiring to traffic cocaine and marijuana and unlawfully participating in and contributing to the activities of criminal organization.

Griffin called the conspiracy charges against the men "very serious" before adding that it could "result in a lengthy penitentiary sentence" if they were found guilty.

He encouraged the men to "lawyer-up" as their future was in "significant jeopardy."

Griffin highlighted that the Crown was being "fair minded in consenting" to the men's release.

Ottawa-based Crown prosecutor Marc Marcotte was tight-lipped about the proceedings but he did say that at least 35 people were held across Ontario.

Marcotte wouldn't disclose any details about how many of the accused were from the Quinte region but at one point in the proceedings a court officer informed Griffin that they had one of the accused at the courthouse and there were 29 to come.

Plans are in place to continue bail hearings for the remaining accused at the Victoria Avenue court this morning.

Several of the accused were also released from the Quinte West OPP detachment by an officer in charge (OIC undertakings) along with promises to appear.

Droves of OPP and Belleville drug enforcement officers raided a house at Ashley Street in Foxboro Wednesday morning in search of drugs as part of Project Needham.

With the assistance of of K9 units, investigators combed through the property located at the intersection of Ashley Street and Mudcat Road.

Officers were milling around the outside of the property which has a run-down barn in the back yard.

Officers from Canada's Border Service Agency were also present with their K9 unit. Investigators were seen moving in and out of the house but no items were removed while Intelligencer reporters were present.

Belleville officers were seen exiting the house with a door breaker ram normally used to slam through locked doors during raids.

The early morning raid saw officers swooping down on the residence in a fleet of unmarked vehicles. There were also several marked city police cruisers at the scene.